June 17, 2012

I Am Collapsing Under The Weight of All These Secrets

Remember when the most painful secret Kate Howard was keeping was her secret past as a Brooklyn Italian?

I miss those days. I miss the days when the only things that ruffled Kate's feathers were being called Connie and getting shot because of her involvement with Sonny.

The tragic upon tragic backstory that's recently been re--revealed, I guess, although "rewritten, totally" is probably equally, if not more, apt, is causing me immense discomfort, thanks to Kelly Sullivan's complete and utter commitment to this devastating story. It would be so much easier for me, emotionally, if she could just put in the minimum amount of effort, because then I'd be able to just roll my eyes and say "Well, THIS isn't worth watching" and I could go along my merry way, fast-forwarding and pausing when Sonny is in the middle of saying something (terrible) and has a hilarious look on his face. But, no. She has to be all compelling and it's hard for me to miss it, even when the story is basically a nesting doll of horrible things happening to Kate, and each doll within a doll has an even sillier Brooklyn accent.

This week, Kate/Connie revealed to Ewen (can we talk about his bandage for a minute? It looks like someone taped a kick me sign to the back of his head and then forgot to write the "kick me" part. I don't see it doing much if, say, his enormous head wound opened) through an almost impossible to watch reenactment, that she had been raped as a teenager. THAT's why she never showed up when she and Sonny made plans to run away; because she was raped by Sonny's rival, Joe Scully Jr., and was pregnant, so the girl was dealing with an awful lot of trauma, from the rape to the baby to the immense guilt she feels for leading Sonny to a life of crime. No, really.

Connie: I couldn't tell him. I couldn't tell him! I left him on the corner, standing there. That's when he went to work for Joe Scully full-time. He started working his way up the organization, and then he went to Atlantic City to run a club there. And everyone thought that that was the life he chose. But--but it was my fault. It was my fault because I drove hi to it when I turned my back on him.

Poor Sonny is the true innocent one here, isn't he?

Joe Scully Jr., who we had never heard of until this point but who has compiled a mile-long rap sheet in the two days since he was first mentioned, was filled with immense hate for a teenaged Sonny because his father liked Sonny better (of course) and because Sonny was way stronger than he was (of course). He decided to settle this score by raping Sonny's girlfriend because this is General Hospital and women need to be raped and sexually threatened as often as possible. Think for a second about how many characters on this show have been sexually assaulted. You just shuddered, didn't you? I know that this isn't a problem unique to GH, but it's upsetting all the same. I suppose I should be somewhat thankful that Connie was a teenager when this happened, and not a child. And when that is something that a person is truly grateful for, we are in a bad place, mentally.

Needless to say, to up the soap factor by a lot, Connie got pregnant and kept it a secret from her family, eventually giving birth by herself in a boarding house and abandoning him.

Connie: I left him in one of the dresser drawers. And then I left. And I got on a train, and i just... I let it go. I was never going back to that place, to those memories. They weren't mine. That baby was not mine. It was as if he never existed.

And abandoned he remained, and I am sure he will not soon appear in Port Charles followed shortly after by his villainous father, leading to a climactic battle between Joe Scully Jr. and Sonny, with Kate weeping on the sidelines and McBain glowering (please see below).

Just kidding, that is totally what's going to happen, except that I am reasonably sure that he already is in Port Charles, in the form of Trey, the douchey producer of Kristina's reality show.

I mean, right? What else could those clever--oh, sorry, I forgot the airquotes. "Clever" cuts between Kate and Trey possibly mean?

Trey is pretty terrible, isn't he? He and Kristina are both massively irritating. She because I am sick of her three facial expressions (1. Annoyed 2. Pouty 3. Shit-stirring) and he because his impassioned defense of how HARD Kristina had it at Yale made me so angry that I found myself siding with Sonny. Every single person at Yale ostracized Kristina because of the details of her admission? I am so sure. A smart girl getting into school because her powerful parent pulled some string? I am clutching my pearls so hard, aghast that something like that could possibly happen at Fake Yale! It's not like it happens at Real Yale or Any Other Institute of Learning Across The Country! No, Kristina is literally the only person who benefited from such an act of depravity and she paid for it by being mean girled by each and every one of the six thousand students enrolled at Yale.

I HATE when they give Sonny a foil so wholly irksome that I can't even root for them. Damn this show to tell.

That's sort of a natural segue to the latest Sonny foil, Joe Scully Jr., who is probably one of the most dangerous villains to step foot in Port Charles, if his miles-long rap sheet is any indication; and he was only invented this week, so this much criminality is almost impressive. In addition to rape, Scully is also guilty of murder. Specifically, the murder of John McBain's sister Theresa. That's right, Sonny did not kill Theresa like John has always thought and he swears it on his children's lives (which, Sonny, you basically say all the time as an empty turn of phrase and have used it even when discussing a situation in which you were completely guilty, so!).

Sonny: Joe Jr. Didn't have the guts to deal with me. So he would take it out on Theresa. One night, after the show, he took her in a room, and he cornered her. And I heard her yelling. So I ran in the room. And he had her by the hair. And I said, "Joe, let her go!" But he was out of control... and he shot her... right in front of me. He dropped the gun, panicked, and he ran away like the coward he is. That's exactly what happened, McBain. I swear to you on my children's lives.

So, yeah, McBain, you can take your Sonny vendetta and choke on it, amirite? WRONG! This revelation did little to damper McBain's disdain for Sonny because John McBain is perfect (MALLORY&MCBAIN4EVA!) (and, if he is anything like me, he is wondering why Sonny couldn't have just set him straight about this eons ago. But I guess that would have necessitated both Joe Scully Jr. and Theresa existing prior to this year and also, McBain and Sonny being on the same show), which was a relief. I was worried--I had these horrifying images of the two of them having shenanigans together. Which could still happen, I suppose, but for now, I will just worry instead about how they are going to permanently relocate McBain to Port Charles if his reason for staying in town went up in flames.

Honestly, I don't mind Anna and Luke. Probably because I was never an Anna and Robert fan(I preferred Holly and Robert). I wouldn't mind seeing a triangle between Tracy, Luke and Anna because people of a certain age are so rarely given those kinds of storylines on soaps.

Is Sonny responsible for anything in his life? Now, it's Kate's fault he joined the mob, and instead of killing McBain's sister, he tried to help her. And ANOTHER kid? Give me a break!

I think Kelly Sullivan is doing a damn good job with what she's being given. I don't care for the storyline, but she's giving it her all and not phoning it in like some of the actors do on this show. (MB and SBu, I'm looking at you.)

KSu is an awful actress. I am embarassed for her and none of this stuff is anything she could put in a reel. She's scene chewing like a soap vet.

Kristina and Sonny have great father daughter chemistry however this story is awful and would be no matter what actress plays the role. Kali could be playing Kristina and it would still be terrible simply for the fact that all of Kristina's scenes are to prop Sonny and occasionally Sam so far.

As a woman I am higly offeneded that Anna is all over Luke like a high school virgin. Gross he's a rapist, drunk, frequent hooker user,etc.

I'm going to agree with a few posts around the Internet that RC switched Sam's rape baby over to Connie/Kate in order to bring on another twenty something to be paired with Krissy and give Connie/Kate a child so that he could keep KSu. Whatever.

Luke is effing gross. The piece of horse dung relished his whores and Jake's death. This GH fan has NOT forgotten the vile crap that came out of Luke's mouth last year.

I know that RC is using Anna/Luke because Robert will come back at some point to find out that Ethan was never his son, and he missed Robin's funeral. Anna will be ticked at Luke for sending Robert off on a wild goose chase, only for Luke to be smacked in the head by Helena with DNA tests that prove Ethan was a Scorpio from day one!

In response to @LisaToo: I'm pretty sure that it's been established that Sonny and Connie never slept together when they were teens. She was a virgin when she was raped and then she took off. So there is no possible way for this baby to be Sonny's.

ITA with everyone about Luke/Anna. Much rather that they put her with McBain.

Anna can do so much better than Luke. I think that's what bothers me even more than the Robert goose hunt. And also, didn't she once upon a time ago lose her job (or her credibility) when she was police chief and fell in love with known mobster Duke Lavery? That might be an interesting story to re-tell, but not with Luke. Luke is no Duke.

So, is the Retconnia McBain story over now that we know "the truth" about what happened?

I commend KSu for her commitment to the material. I had a hard time connecting with her, but it was one of those scenes where I couldn't look away. But I found myself thinking through the whole thing about monologues and how I would have done it if it were me. I'm really glad it wasn't.

Yeah, Trey looks too similar to Sonny to not be yet another kid of his. I guess that means Starr will be in a triangle with Mikey and Trey? I'll give them that that's soapy. That's about all i'll give them however.

I have to say that I'm enjoying this revision of Kate's backstory. I never bought the whole "I had to change my name from something Italian to go Yale and then become a big muckety-muck in the fashion business" bs that Bob Guza came up with. Because there are no Italians in fashion! Also treating Bensonshurst as some sort of third world country to escape from. You want to escape from Benshonhurst? You take a train to Manhattan! Back then it would have cost like a buck fifty.

It pains me to say this but... I'm almost impressed that the writers have Sonny being supportive of Kate and recognizing that she has a mental illness.

And the I am hoping (PRAYING) that the fact that Jason and Sam abandoned the dragon and phoenix means that they are well and truly over. Maybe when she gets the baby back and finds out who the baby daddy really is she will keep her mouth shut. (Yes, I really am that horrible.)

"Holly, we suspect that the rapebaby that is supposed to be Joe Jr.'s will in fact turn out to be Sonny's. That would be gripping and original."

People can suspect it, but Connie and Sonny were waiting until they got married to have sex (Connie is once again the good girl- "the girl in the yellow hat") and Connie was most definitely a virgin when she was raped by Joe Scully, Jr. There is no not going to be a Sonny child in this story. I think the story will be Sonny pitted against his enemy's and Kate's child, because that phone call Trey made meant something. And just maybe that wasn't accidental that Trey happened upon a mixed up and angry Kristina.

Holly & Angie…my bad. Of course this can’t be Sonny’s kid. I wasn’t thinking – or I automatically “went there” because he usually is when there is a WTD storyline.

Also, why is everyone assuming that Trey is Connie’s rape-baby? Did I miss something? (Possible since I FF through most of this SL.) Can’t they just bring a new (hopefully temporary) character to the show without him/her being the long-lost child of someone? How many unknown children can a show possibly have? (I know, I know…don’t say it.)

Well Kelly Sullivan is bringing it for sure. Watching that was awful, disturbing and heartbreaking all at the same time. Kudos to Kelly S.

It would be a totally surprising thing if they DIDN'T make Trey Kate/Connie's kid with the rapist.

I am pretty sick with the Sonny propping, so if you're going to make him a good guy them make him a good guy and junk the mob stuff. sigh.

Luke and Anna are beyond NOT something I want to see. . . .yuck.

How about something for Alexis? They'll probably have her hook up with Joe Scully Jr., as she always seems to hook up with the bad guy and not recognize him as such til it's too late.

Bring back some more old characters! Recast Rick L, Ned, Dillon, Lois, Nickolas, Lucky if you can't get the originals. Even bring in ones from other shows with established backgrounds.

All these totally brand new characters, who have no history, are difficult to get invested in.

I know that some who hate the idea of OLTL people coming feel that way about them, but even if you don't know the character's background from OLTL, they HAVE a background. They HAVE a personality and don't need to spend months developing the character. it's there. We can enjoy it, and if you are really confused you can always read up on it, or watch old videos.

These new people take so much time and effort. when things are looking iffy for the soaps, focus on people the watchers are ALREADY INVESTED IN!!!

So does this means Kate will have to choose between her son and Sonny when she finds out the baby didn't die? Even if Trey is a dirtbag Kate should do like Brenda and chuck Sonny a peace sign as she heads out of town with her new son!

OK one more thing she placed the baby in a drawer...really? Emma was in a tree Sam's baby in a planter box now we have a baby in a drawer. The show is called General Hospital it has the word hospital in the title yet babies are being placed in everything but a glass hospital bassinet! smh

I just need to vent a little here: I absolutely HATE this Kristina. Every single time I see her on my screen I have an undying urge to punch her in the face. Doesn't this character know how to smile just a little? She and Sonny can both be killed off any day. Do a father/daughter send off. Unfortunately, I actually was on Sonny's side with the diphead Trey and the stupid explanations. Scum-Bag. But please don't think ill of me because of this one moment of weakness for Sonny. I'm back to Scummy hate now and I feel better!

a few things: Kelly Sullivin has been doing such an AMAZING job with this whole tragic past of Kate/Connie's. and I agree with you ladies, it's sick and really disturbing how many rape stories I've seen on this show and I've only been watching since the mid 90's. and I also agree with you that Kristina SUCKS and is beyond ANNOYING. I don't like Micheal either hell the only one of Sonny's kids I actually like is Morgan and that's cause Jax basically raised him but seriously Kristina is BEYOND annoying. I Hate this kid Trey but I hope they make him and not the ANNOYING Spinellie Kate's kid. I also hope that they still make John a good cop who actually still goes after the REAL criminals on this show. and I really hope that for once this show doesn't have Sam go crawling back to "saint Jason" cause seriously, the guy has done enough to the woman. so please GH, give the girl some self respect and find her someone WHO REALLY TREATS HER RIGHT.